A deep-pocketed New Orleans attorney is waging a last-ditch campaign to derail Democrat Cedric Richmond’s bid in today's 2nd District congressional primary.

Stuart H. Smith, a Democratic donor who has cut checks to a slate of party candidates, launched the Louisiana Truth PAC, which in recent weeks has been slamming Richmond in TV ads and mailers for his alleged ethical mishaps.

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The group has also launched a website titled, “The Real Cedric Richmond for Congress,” which features comic book-like imagery that portrays Richmond as a “villain.” It also highlights news reports on Richmond’s misdemeanor charge arising from a 2007 Baton Rouge bar fight — it was later dismissed — and on the brief 2008 suspension of his law license for listing a false address when he ran for city council in 2005.

Richmond, a Louisiana state representative who is waging a campaign for the New Orleans-area, 2nd District seat of GOP Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, faces state Rep. Juan LaFonta, former congressional staffer Eugene Green and community activist Gary Johnson in the Democratic primary. Green is a former aide to former Rep. William Jefferson, whom Cao defeated in 2008. Jefferson was convicted of bribery and is serving a 13-year prison sentence.

Smith, who is personally supporting LaFonta and has contributed to his campaign, told POLITICO in a Saturday interview that he had spent about $80,000 to fund the Louisiana Truth PAC.

“Once all the evidence about Mr. Richmond’s corruption came out, we knew we had to act,” said Smith, who likened Richmond to Jefferson. “We can’t have another Bill Jefferson.”

Smith has slammed the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for stepping into the contested primary and adding Richmond to its “Red to Blue” program, which provides fundraising and infrastructure support for candidates. Earlier this month, Smith wrote a letter to DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen and called it “reprehensible that you would get involved in a local primary such as the one occurring in the Second Congressional District of Louisiana.”

Richmond has insisted that he was merely trying to defend himself against another man whom he said had used racial epithets and instigated the 2007 bar fight, telling reporters earlier this month that he “tried to remove himself” from the situation. Richmond has previously acknowledged responsibility for listing the incorrect address on his city council candidacy forms.

In an e-mail through his campaign spokeswoman, Richmond accused Louisiana Truth PAC of running a shadow campaign for Cao, the freshman congressman who defeated Jefferson. “The Louisiana Truth PAC will do anything to keep this seat for the Republican Party and Joseph Cao," the email said.

The Democrat has responded aggressively to the attacks, going up with a new TV ad that accuses the group of trying to hijack the primary.

In Saturday's interview, Smith adamantly denied he was a Republican wolf in sheep’s clothing, noting that he had been a major donor to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.

“I’m a big Democrat,” he said, adding: “Every penny that comes from the Louisiana Truth PAC comes from Democrats.”

Smith also said he would not target Richmond in the general election against Cao should the state representative prevail in the primary.

However, some Richmond allies have noted that the group counts Jimmy Burland, a Baton Rouge attorney and GOP donor, as its assistant treasurer.

Smith insisted that Burland played only a marginal role and was not directing its efforts nor providing funding. Burland, for his part, declined to comment to POLITICO on his involvement with Louisiana Truth PAC.

Despite the last-minute wave of attacks, Richmond was heading into the Aug. 28 primary as the strong favorite. He picked up the endorsements of House Majority Whip James Clyburn, the South Carolina Democrat, Louisiana Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Sen. Mary Landrieu and former Sen. John Breaux. As of Aug. 8, Richmond led LaFonta with $166,000 cash on hand to $13,000.

National Democrats view Cao, who occupies a district that Obama won with 75 percent of the vote, as one of the few vulnerable GOP incumbents this cycle. Cao's win over Jefferson was attributed in part to the scandal involving Jefferson and a hurricane that pushed the 2008 election back until a week after the presidential election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has signaled that it plans to air ads targeting the Republican this fall.